Path

Quick Specs

Version:

4.3

Total Downloads:

11,645

Date Added:

Mar. 01, 2015

Price:

Free; iTunes account required.

File Size:

28.46MB

Downloads Last Week:

21

Platform:

iOS

Editors' Note:The download button opens the iTunes App Store, where you
may continue the download process. You must have iTunes installed with an
active iTunes account in order to download and install the software. This
download may not be available in some countries.

Editors' Review

At a time when Facebook seems to keep adding apps, curating news feeds, and pushing users to connect with as many other users as possible, Path, the blossoming social-sharing app for iOS and Android, is doing just the opposite. It's trying to keep things small and simple.

While the idea of social networking on a smaller scale may seem strange, it makes a lot more sense once you get to know Path. With no brand pages, groups, event invitations, or Bejeweled requests to clutter its experience, this young social network is all about sharing personal moments with loved ones. That's it. That's why it limits the number of connections you can have to 150 (a number that Path believes is the average number of true friends a person has in life).

As with any other social network, getting started on Path means creating an account and populating a profile. Your name, e-mail address, and a photo will do, but you can also add your phone number and birthday. Like Google Plus and Facebook, Path gives you a slot for a cover photo, where you can upload something a little artsier than your standard head shot.

Once you're all set up, the first thing you should notice is Path's interface, elegantly designed and head and shoulders above that of Facebook's mobile app. It's easy to zip around and share things, and the entire package just looks and feels...better. Tiny details like the emotion icons and the time stamp that appears as you scroll through updates make it a pleasure to keep tabs on friends, rather than an exhausting task, as it sometimes can be with other social-networking programs. Overall, it's a pleasantly intuitive experience.

The biggest thing that sets Path apart from other networks is the nature of the updates that get shared. While Facebook walls can be filled with posts about any number of things ("Come to my party!" "Support this cause!" "Check out my new Web site!"), Path is more about letting your friends and family know what you're up to throughout the day. Thus, its sharing options are distinctly personal. You can share photos, who you're with, where you are, the music you're listening to (with the help of a built-in Shazam-like tool), or your thoughts (essentially, through a status update). There's even an option to let your Path friends know when you're sleeping.

Granted, you can always share whatever you want, but after using Path, I can say there's a noticeable skew toward sharing personal moments, as opposed to, say, news articles or viral videos. In fact, there isn't even an easy way to share hyperlinks, which can be both a relief and a pain.

By default, your posts only go to your friends who are on Path. But if you'd like, you can easily share anything simultaneously on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Foursquare. This makes the Path app an attractive first option whenever you have something you want to share.

As impressive as Path is, though, there are still areas where it could improve. For one, it's only available via mobile app. There is no Web-based interface where you can read and post updates. Second, the photo sharing is weak. Neither the iPhone nor the Android version offers cropping, zooming, or other editing features. Also, as of now, only the iPhone version can post videos, which is baffling.

At this point, it seems to me like the biggest obstacle new Path users face is getting friends onto the network. Still relatively new in the social-app space, Path can be a tough sell to longtime Facebook devotees.

Overall, if you're looking for a simple app to keep you in the loop with only your closest friends and family, Path is the answer. It's beautiful, powerful, and at the moment seems to be growing very quickly.

Path (iPhone | Android) is available as a free download from Google Play and from the App Store.

read more +

Publisher's Description

Path is simple, personal social networking.Designed with the people you love, your closest friends and family, in mind. Path is a trusted, intimate environment like your dinner table at home.FeaturesCapture Moments: With Path you can capture and share all of life's most important moments: photos, videos, thoughts, places, music, TV shows, movies, books, workouts, and sleep.Be Yourself: Create and edit beautiful photos and videos with our world-class creative tools and filters.Control Privacy: You're always in control of your privacy on Path with settings that are simple and easy-to-understand.Get More Than Likes: With Path Emotions you'll get more than likes from your family and close friends smiles, frowns, laughs, gasps, or loves. Also: never again wonder if a friend saw your post, because with Path you can see everyone who has.Search Moments: Revisit any of your Moments by searching for friends, birthdays, places, cities, holidays, months, seasons, and more.Share Everywhere: Easily share any of your Path Moments to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare, Wordpress, and email.Apps & More: Your favorite apps work with Path too. Share your Nike runs, Strava workouts, VSCOcam photos, Wordpress posts, and more.

What's new in this version:

Muting: Now you can easily mute any moment that you're tagged in. And, we want you to have even more control change your settings so only your friends can tag you in moments.Share to Email: Your friends don't need to be on Path to see what you're sharing anymore. Send a beautiful Path moment to any email address.

Has a cool, sleek interface, allows you to share a variety of facets in your life, has filters for your photos, has a more intimate feel than other social networks, and it's free!

Cons

Might be too simple for some people, but I think this is what makes it stand out from other social networking apps.

Summary

Path is a cool little social networking app that lets you share parts of your life to the people who really matter. With facebook, twitter, instagram, and all that hoopla, it's hard not to fall into a social media overload. The beauty of the Path app lies in its simplicity and personal feel. The photo filters and chat feature help to reinforce this. Plus you don't have to worry what you're sharing, since it'll be limited to within your small group of friends. Path is a cool, new, breathe of fresh air in the overcrowded realm of social media.

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Full Specifications

+

What's new in version 4.3

Muting: Now you can easily mute any moment that you're tagged in. And, we want you to have even more control change your settings so only your friends can tag you in moments.Share to Email: Your friends don't need to be on Path to see what you're sharing anymore. Send a beautiful Path moment to any email address.